LEES: Rethinking second chances

I’ve always believed in the saying “Everyone deserves a second chance.” The situations with Anthony Weiner in NYC and the mayor of San Diego got me thinking about this.

As far as Anthony Weiner goes – maybe the mad sexter deserved a second chance to win back the public’s trust, but he sure doesn’t deserve a third chance. Drop out of the New York City Democratic primary in the mayoral race, go home, get out of the public eye, and try another career, Anthony.

…Admitted sexual harasser Mayor Bob Filner of San Diego has announced that he will go into two weeks of therapy rather than resign his office. Um, no, Bob. You are 70 years old. You obviously have been a harasser for a long time. Resign, get two years of therapy, and then we will see about a second chance.

…. What about the GOP? Should most minorities and many of the young give the GOP another chance? Sure, after the party leadership comes up with some new ideas, gives up on voter suppression tactics, and drops the mean-spiritedness toward the poor and the struggling. Here’s Paul Krugman’s latest take on the GOP soul from his July 15th column: “Something terrible has happened to the soul of the Republican Party. We’ve gone beyond bad economic doctrine. We’ve even gone beyond selfishness and special interests. At this point we’re talking about a state of mind that takes positive glee in inflicting further suffering on the already miserable.”

Wait until the GOP tries to shut down the government soon unless Romney/Obamacare is defunded. Deny millions of Americans healthcare, otherwise they shut down the government? So there can only be a second chance for the GOP after they get rational. That may take awhile, unfortunately.

Definitely, a second chance should be given to the Justice Department so it can prevent the Texas GOP from trying to discriminate against Latina/Latino voters. The Supreme Court says the DOJ temporarily can’t use Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act to enforce Section 5 which prevents discrimination in elections. But you can use Section 3 against areas which have recently been found to discriminate. So that is what the Attorney General, Eric Holder, plans to do. Texas GOP Governor Rick “Oops” Perry is not going to be happy.

… The Pennsylvania legislature now has another chance to get State Senator Daylin Leach’s bill to allow same gender marriage in Pennsylvania out of committee and approve it. They definitely should be given the opportunity to do that. Thank you D. Bruce Hanes for forcing the issue. I’m proud to say that one of my advisees from 1988 was one of the people who applied for a marriage license last week after Hanes made his announcement.

… The Constitution Center should definitely consider giving the exhibit “1968” a second run after it ends this one in early September. Saw it last Saturday, and it was really good. If you lived through 1968, you will have a lot of memories brought back. They even have some of the dishes that were from the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on that fateful night in June, 1968 when Bobby Kennedy (who pretty clearly was going to be elected President in November 1968) was shot and killed. If you were too young to remember 1968, it still would be a good history lesson to see the information about heavy duty things from 1968 like Martin Luther King’s assassination, the Chicago police riot against anti-war demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic Convention, scenes from the Vietnam War, a letter from a soldier whose friend was killed in the Vietnam War, etc. There are also plenty of light-hearted displays such as scenes of Don Adams being ridiculous playing agent Maxwell Smart on Mel Brook’s popular TV show from 1968 “Get Smart.”

… Philadelphia should be given a second chance to find another source of funding aside from taxing lap dances at strip joints. However, this topic is too nonsensical to even continue discussing.

… Finally, in the sports world, the Phillies should be given another chance to have a decent season next year, because this season is turning into one giant train wreck. The Sixers should be given a second chance in 2014-15, because this year’s team may give the 1972-73 team a run for the title of “0 and 76’ers.” I hope I’m wrong about that, but I don’t think so. Finally, Coach Chip Kelly of the Eagles is already getting a second chance after getting out of Oregon right before the NCAA disciplined his program there. I hope this guy shows some substance. I’m getting suspicious that he is all smoke and mirrors, but I hope I’m wrong about that also.